Page 14 of Christmas Mittens Murder

Shining in the East beyond them far . . . ”

Finally, Reverend Ted turned around and waved his arms at everybody. “You know what, why doesn’t everyone take a little break so I can have a private chat with Hayley?”

Doris Crimmons from the Crochet Mafia, who also sang in the church choir, stepped forward, annoyed. “But this is only our second house! We don’t need a break already!”

“I noticed you were a little off-key, Doris. Why don’t you hum a few bars with the rest of the choir and get yourself back in tune before we continue! I will be right back!”

Before Hayley could protest, Reverend Ted slipped through the front door and slammed the door shut on his choir just as a man in the back groaned, “But it’s twenty degrees outside!”

He sheepishly turned to Hayley. “I’m sorry, this will only take a moment.”

“What is it?” she asked curiously.

“I would like to enlist your services.”

“Trust me, Reverend, I have no intention of joining the choir. I have a terrible singing voice.”

“Oh, don’t worry! I know! I’ve heard you sing a few hymns at church. As Simon Cowell once said, if you lived two thousand years ago and tried to sing, I fear they might have stoned you.”

Hayley grimaced.

He could have stopped at “I know.”

“Then what is it you want?”

Reverend Ted took a deep breath and sighed. “I want you to investigate Esther Willey’s murder.”

Hayley shook her head. “I understand I have a reputation for being an eager amateur sleuth, but I think it’s probably wise to leave this case to the police.”

Bruce strolled in with two mugs of eggnog, grinning at Hayley. “Who are you, and what have you done with my wife?”

He had a point.

It was the rarest of occasions when Hayley actually turned down the opportunity to do some snooping.

Before she had the chance to take a mug of eggnog from Bruce, Reverend Ted reached out and snagged her hand. “Please, you must! I’m begging you! I need you to find out what happened!”

“Why is it so important to you?” Hayley asked.

“Because my fear is the police will act too slow, drag out the investigation, and time is of the essence because if you can prove that whoever killed Esther was not a part of the church, then maybe I can convince Scooter Beauchemin that he should rethink withdrawing his donation. Think of all the kids, all the families, who will go without this Christmas season if the church can’t provide food and presents because this year’s bazaar was a scandal-plagued bust!”

“But why me? I just don’t see—”

“You know, I know, the whole town suspects Esther’s death had something to do with those knitting circles. Some of those women are downright vicious!”

“Actually we honestly don’t know that for sure—”

He cut her off again. “Besides, I heard you briefly belonged to Helen Woodworth’s group. You know them all well, they probably trust you. I’m sure you will have an easier time investigating them from inside the circle than the police will,” he reasoned.

The little voice inside her was screaming at her to politely but forcibly turn down Reverend Ted’s request. But the desperation she could see in his eyes was almost too much to bear.

And he was right.

The faster Esther’s killer was brought to justice and the church was cleared of any involvement or connection, the better the chance that Scooter Beauchemin might give back his check so the neediest families in town could have a merry Christmas.

Hayley went from shaking her head to slowly nodding, resigned. “Okay, fine. I will do it.”

“And there it is.” Bruce laughed, not the least bit surprised, as he slurped on his eggnog and got whipped cream all over his upper lip.

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